geekosystem

You all listen to the Judge John Hodgman podcast, right? RIGHT? Good. In case you missed last week's episode, it featured one of the greatest moments in the show's history. The show is hosted by occasional Daily Show correspondent, professional PC, knower of all things, and eccentric millionaire John Hodgman with co-host "Bailiff" Jesse Thorn. Hodgman sang the cover of "Baby Got Back" featured in an episode of Glee that was stolen from Jonathan Coulton, who was in the audience. Hodgman and Coulton are friends, and unlike Glee, Hodgman at least gave Coulton implied credit.

What do Jonathan Coulton, John Hodgman, Wil Wheaton, Paul and Storm, Bill Corbett & Kevin Murphy from Rifftrax, Molly Lewis, and Mike Phirman have in common? Two things. First of all, they are the best and brightest in the ever-important worlds of geek music and comedy. Second of all, and I hardly even believe this myself, they are all entertaining on the same Caribbean cruise, taking place from Jan. 2 to Jan. 8, 2011. The cruise, called JoCo Cruise Crazy and organized by Johnathan Coulton, promises to be the best vacation anyone will have ever gone on in any of their lives.

Judging by the swift, powerful response on Twitter, J.D. Salinger's death has struck a nerve, not least among his fellow writers. Below, tributes, wisecracks, and other reflections the news inspired in Neil Gaiman, John Hodgman, William Gibson, and more: (also, Bret Easton Ellis kinda sounds like a jerk.)